Synergy Strong Podcast: Real stories. Real Impact.

Synergy Athletics
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Health & Fitness
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to the Synergy Strong Podcast, where we share the stories behind our community and what it really means to have people in your corner. This isn’t about workouts or programs. It’s about our “got your back” promise, ensuring you feel supported not just inside the gym, but outside our four walls too. Each episode is meant to give you something to take with you, whether that’s a little perspective, motivation, or just the push you need for your next workout, walk, run, or bike ride. Have someone in mind or a story worth sharing? Email: eric@synergyfitnessteam.com

Episodes

  1. 3d ago

    John Lupo Schofield on Fitness, Community, and Running Speedie and Rib pit

    Bryon  interviews John Lupo Schofield, owner-operator of Speedie and Rib pit, about how two years of 5:00 AM group workouts built accountability, community, and functional strength for John’s physical restaurant work, including preventing back flare-ups after a prior injury. John describes waking up early by removing barriers, the mental battle of consistency, and how fitness helps him show up for family—highlighted by his 12-year-old daughter with Prader-Willi syndrome joining him at the gym and completing rowing/skiing and tank pushes. He shares his path from earning a master’s in education and substitute teaching to joining the family restaurant in 2009, relocating in 2019, and managing day-to-day operations through relationships and respect. They discuss small-business visibility, community over convenience, diet challenges in a restaurant, and John’s keys to restaurants: good food, consistency, and a smile. Check out our Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61568821531234⁠ Come check us out and grab a free week by texting “PODCAST” to 607-258-9388.

    John Lupo Schofield on Fitness, Community, and Running Speedie and Rib pit

  2. Sep 9

    Tracy Sephton on Grit, Community, and Mindset at Synergy Strong

    Carly, Synergy’s marketing director, interviews Tracy Sephton, Synergy’s head trainer and director of the GRIT Athlete program. Tracy describes growing up as a rural, outdoorsy only child in Vestal, NY, including being raised without a TV, which she credits for shaping her imagination, activity level, and fitness passion. She recounts playing field hockey from age six through college at East Stroudsburg University as an exercise science major, the post-college athlete identity shift, and how she proactively reached out to Synergy despite no job opening, drawn by its community. Tracy discusses connecting with adult members, leading trainers, and supporting members at local events. She explains GRIT’s middle school strength, speed, and character focus, testing, weekly themes, leadership habits like eye-contact handshakes, and confidence-building outcomes. She also shares mindset principles, coaching approaches, half marathon PRs, lifting goals, and rapid-fire favorites. Check out our Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61568821531234 Want to grab a free session, click below: https://synergyfitnessteam.com/#freesession Interested in our Athlete Program, click here: https://synergyfitnessteam.com/programs/grit-athlete-training/

    Tracy Sephton on Grit, Community, and Mindset at Synergy Strong

  3. Sep 2

    Amor Fati and Obstacles as Opportunities with Dan Kosick

    Bryon interviews Dan Kosick on the Synergy Strong Podcast about “Amor Fati” (love of fate), inspired by Dan’s Daily Stoic reading and forearm tattoo, and how embracing adversity shaped his life. Dan recounts developing an ankle nerve tumor that turned malignant at 15, leading to an above-knee amputation and six months of chemotherapy, then rebuilding confidence through supportive family, friendships, and a Make-A-Wish week with the Washington Redskins. He returned to sports via swimming and later lacrosse, then found a path in disabled alpine skiing, making the US Disabled Alpine Ski Team in 1997 and competing in the 1998 Nagano and 2002 Salt Lake City Paralympics (fourth place). Dan later pursued Tough Mudder racing, completing 50 miles at World’s Toughest Mudder (2017), partnered with ROMP to summit Ecuador’s Cotopaxi (2019), and completed a Grand Canyon rim-to-rim-to-rim challenge for Outside TV’s Beat Monday, emphasizing process, discipline, and viewing obstacles as opportunities. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61568821531234 https://synergyfitnessteam.com/#freesession

    Amor Fati and Obstacles as Opportunities with Dan Kosick

  4. Aug 26

    Running for a Cause: Colin Gerner and the Stache Strong Story

    Colin Gerner on Stache Strong: Turning GJ’s Glioblastoma Fight into $7M+ for Brain Cancer Research Host Carly interviews Colin Gerner, CEO/co-founder of Stache Strong, a nonprofit that has funded over $7 million for brain cancer research. Colin shares growing up in Vestal, New York, his brother GJ’s running- and community-driven personality, and the family’s shift from accounting careers in NYC to confronting GJ’s Labor Day 2017 seizure, surgery, and glioblastoma diagnosis within two weeks. He explains glioblastoma (grade IV) and its poor outcomes, and describes Stache Strong’s origins from GJ’s mustache and a mission to help others through fundraising and community support, including clinical navigation via the Brain Tumor Network. They discuss major fundraisers: the Vestal Stache Strong 5K (approaching $1M raised), global marathon teams raising $1M in 2026, a NYC fundraiser, Florida golf tournament, and Brew Stache Strong with 400+ breweries, plus Colin’s Boston Marathon campaign raising about $257K. For more info on StacheStrong click below: https://stachestrong.org/ StacheStrong 5k on 9/19/2026 : https://stachestrong.org/event/5k-run-walk/ Free Session at Synergy Athletics: https://synergyfitnessteam.com/#freesession

    Running for a Cause: Colin Gerner and the Stache Strong Story

  5. Aug 19

    Vanessa Snyder: From Weight Loss to Taking Up Strong Space

    Eric welcomes longtime Synergy member Vanessa Snyder to the Synergy Strong Podcast, joking about her lifting heavy weights and working out barefoot. Vanessa shares her background as an active kid from a low-income, unstable home, playing volleyball, swimming, cheer, and track, and how early-2000s body-image culture shaped her self-talk and relationship with fitness. She recounts being nearly 300 pounds, then starting Weight Watchers in 2010 after seeing wedding photos, building a disciplined routine, and losing 115 pounds over eight years while tracking food and emphasizing planning, control, and support. After years of cardio and teaching spin, she joined Synergy through a teacher colleague to pursue strength and “take up space,” discussing women’s health, protein intake, and mindset lessons from lifting. She describes inspiring others to try the barbell and outlines goals including HYROX/DEKA events and new maxes in bench, squat, and deadlift. Follow us on Facebook.

  6. Aug 12

    Synergy Member Spotlight: Jason Aleba

    Synergy Member Spotlight: Jason Aleba on Rucking, Weight Loss, and Big Goals Eric interviews Synergy Fitness member and rucking enthusiast Jason Aleba about his training, health journey, setbacks, and goals. Jason describes weekly 5:00 AM bleacher rucks at the Vestal track to prepare for long-elevation rucks and possibly a 50K trail run. He joined Synergy in 2019 after Facebook ads and a trial workout, seeking weight loss and better health after years of sedentary truck driving, poor blood work, and a cycle of lifting injuries at big-box gyms. Within months he gained energy, improved sleep, and lowered his A1C from diabetic to pre-diabetic. He discovered rucking through Synergy members, progressing from 3 miles to 20–30 miles and completing a 32-mile event in Philadelphia. After a stress fracture, he worked with nutrition coach Brittany, improving body composition and losing over 50 pounds of fat. He discusses an ankle sprain that paused half-marathon training, adjusting plans to future events including a November half marathon and Tough Ruck Boston.

  7. Aug 5

    From Rubik’s to Summer Shred Winner, Paul’s Journey

    Paul Rogers on 12 Years at Synergy, Nutrition Lessons, and Winning 2026 Summer Shred Eric interviews long-time Synergy member Paul Rogers, the 2026 Summer Shred male winner, who lost 4.2% body fat and gained 3.8 pounds of muscle. Paul recounts joining Synergy with his wife Danielle around September 2014 after receiving a free-workout certificate at a race, describing the early “walk through RBI” gym setup and the community that kept them returning. He shares his fitness background from youth soccer to running, marathons, and triathlons, and how strength training began as a supplement. Paul discusses gaining weight after his son’s birth, learning nutrition basics through Weight Watchers, and losing 60 pounds. For Summer Shred, he focused on accountability, keeping better foods at home, using a food scale to understand portions, adding a daily protein shake, and prioritizing strength goals over scale weight, emphasizing small habits and community support.

  8. Jul 29

    Summer Shred 2026 Winner Sharon Mannix on Building Strength, Habits, and Health at Synergy

    Host Eric welcomes Sharon Mannix, Synergy’s female Summer Shred 2026 winner, who shares her lifelong “up and downhill” fitness journey influenced by adult ADHD, injuries, autoimmune issues, arthritis, and significant family history of cancer, diabetes, and heart problems. Motivated by caring for her older husband and alarming bloodwork after a 12-year gap in primary care (borderline blood pressure, high cholesterol, and pre-diabetes), she joined Synergy in October via a free-week offer for BOCES employees. Sharon contrasts Synergy’s supportive coaching and community with previous gyms, describes early strength wins, and explains a mindset reframe from “I don’t have time” to “it’s not a priority.” During Summer Shred she added an extra gym day, increased water, used “movement snacks,” tracked food/macros to hit 100g protein, improved snacks, and reduced sugary lattes; results included losing 3.7% body fat and gaining 1.4 lb muscle. She aims to continue progress focusing on grip strength, balance, and long-term functional health, encouraging listeners to “get off the fence” and try Synergy. Want a free session? Click HERE!

  9. Jul 22

    Carly on Sports, Marketing, Risk-Taking, and Strength for Life

    Eric welcomes Carly, Synergy’s marketing director, to the relaunched Synergy podcast to share her background and philosophy. Carly grew up in Vestal, New York in a sports-focused family, ran cross country and track, played lacrosse, and competed in Division III lacrosse at Nazareth College while studying media/rhetoric, psychology, and earning a master’s in integrated marketing communications. She describes how marketing and psychology connect through understanding why people make decisions, and how internships and informational interviews shaped her career. After working in pharmaceutical advertising, Carly and her husband quit their jobs, faced COVID disruptions, traveled by camper, and ultimately led her to Synergy, where she learned the brand’s values and community focus. She discusses parenting without abandoning personal goals, training for marathons, the sacrifices required, and encouraging members—especially moms—to prioritize strength and health now, not later.Book a free session- HERE! Check out our Facebook page HERE!

  10. Jul 15

    Eric Purdy on Ironman Mindset, Doing Hard Things, and the Power of Community

    Bryon interviews Synergy’s Eric Purdy about his endurance journey and mindset. Eric recounts traveling to Knoxville and then discusses why Ironman training felt uniquely consuming and intimidating, including triathlon cutoffs and the logistics of large races. He describes going from an unathletic, overweight kid to finding strength training in high school and later shifting toward running after back issues, PT, and a first painful 5K. He credits a supportive community, coping with the Toys “R” Us closure through movement, and a Whiteface Mountain hike plus Joe’s challenge as catalysts for committing to the Wineglass Marathon, which became his biggest turning point for confidence. Eric explains marathon race-day highs and lows, training blocks (about 20 weeks for a marathon, ~6 months for triathlon), and emphasizes disciplined, scary goals, sharing them for accountability, and building supportive circles. He cites the quote “You die with dreams or memories,” mentions writing himself a New Year’s email of goals, and lists his resume: 22 half marathons, two marathons with a third upcoming, four half Ironmans, and one full Ironman. Book your free session- HERE!

  11. Jul 8

    John Lanza on Building Rossi’s Pizza, Surviving Cancer, and Rebuilding Health at Synergy

    On the Synergy Strong Podcast, host Bryon interviews Synergy member John Lanza, who has trained at Synergy for nearly three years and now attends 5–6 days a week while working to improve nutrition and lose 40–50 pounds. John shares his career story: starting at Rossi’s Pizza at 15, earning an accounting degree, then buying the business at 24 and owning it for 32 years, growing it to 35–40 employees and adding a franchise location, emphasizing consistency, quality ingredients, cost control, and hands-on management. He discusses challenges balancing fitness with years of eating pizza daily, plans to retire at year-end, and strategies like 10,000 steps and frequent fresh-food shopping. John recounts major health crises including pericarditis that nearly killed him, lymphoma treated with six to seven months of chemotherapy and weight gain, and the loss of his wife Barb to pancreatic cancer, describing Synergy as key to his physical and mental healing. He advises younger people to take risks and work hard. Book a free session-HERE!

  12. Jun 29

    Bryon’s Story: From Athlete to Owner of Synergy Athletics

    In the first episode of the Synergy Strong Podcast, hosts Eric (Synergy trainer and run coach) and Bryon (Synergy owner and trainer) introduce the show’s mission of guiding busy adults through personal workouts and building community through future guests. Bryon shares how a competitive, sports-focused upbringing as the youngest sibling sparked his drive for strength and leadership, leading him from soccer into football and lacrosse, weight-room training with friends, and an exercise science degree at SUNY Brockport where he played lacrosse and became captain. He credits an internship lead from a college friend for bringing him to Synergy in 2014, where he learned to coach non-athletic adults and helped sustain the business through COVID by shifting to virtual training. After founder Joe moved west, Bryon chose to buy Synergy, taking on major debt to keep the business local, build a strong team, and prioritize family time while focusing on elevating the member experience across two locations. Book a free session today-HERE! Synergy Athletics Facebook

  • 12 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Welcome to the Synergy Strong Podcast, where we share the stories behind our community and what it really means to have people in your corner. This isn’t about workouts or programs. It’s about our “got your back” promise, ensuring you feel supported not just inside the gym, but outside our four walls too. Each episode is meant to give you something to take with you, whether that’s a little perspective, motivation, or just the push you need for your next workout, walk, run, or bike ride. Have someone in mind or a story worth sharing? Email: eric@synergyfitnessteam.com

Information